Report by Ben Davis

Pompey's hopes of moving clear of serious danger were dealt a blow by a good-looking Charlton side who are pushing for promotion. The defeat leaves Pompey bottom although a win over QPR on Boxing day and other favourable results could take them out of the dreaded zone.
Captain Adrian Whitbread was out with a hip injury and Fenwick decided to play Turner at left wing-back. The tactics looked like those out of Venables's England days with a christmas tree formation. Svensson played alone up front with Turner and Hall behind him.
Pompey pressed the ball early on forcing Chapple into a mistake when he headed to ball straight to Turner whose cross beat Salmon and the on rushing Durnin. The first booking of the match went to Charlton's Brown for a tackle from behind on Svensson. The free kick came to nothing although Pompey had the first real chance not long after when McLoughlin and Durnin set up Turner and his low drive went across Salmons goal and wide for a goal-kick.
A glorious pass by Simpson found fellow Jamaican compatriot Hall on the right-hand corner of the area, but his low centre flew harmlessly wide. In the 25th minute Pompey won the first corner of the game and it almost brought the opening goal. Simpson's cross was flicked on by Thomson and McLoughlin's diving header was blocked by Rufus.
The cross bar then saved Pompey as Charlton started to get control of the game. Awford brought down the giant figure of Leaburn almost on the edge of the area. Kinsella's effort struck the crossbar and away to safety to the relief of Knight who had waved his arms at the shot assuming it would go over. Durnin was then cautioned for a foul on Robinson.
Pompey then really should have taken the lead when Bowen's error let Hall in. The Charlton defender allowed Hillier's pass elude him and Hall latched onto it. He rounded the keeper and looked certain to score when he somehow dragged the ball across the face of the goal and wide.
Concentration hasn't been at it's best this season for Pompey and they were punished again right on half-time as Charlton took the lead. Newton got away down the right passing Simpson and crossing low for Robinson to guide in beyond Knight's desperate dive with no defender in sight as they'd attempted to catch the winger offside, and failed.
Hillier's afternoon had come to an end with Igoe replacing him. Robinson picked up Charlton's third booking of the match for kicking the ball away when Pompey had won a free-kick. Another mistake by Bowen could have lead to an equaliser. His header fell to Turner but Salmon did well to block the shot.
Pompey put the pressure on with Charlton's defence holding out and in the 52nd minute they had a bit of breathing space to working with as the visitors scored a second goal. Newton released Robinson away down the right and his low centre was despatched in to the net by Leaburn.
Heads then dropped and Charlton looked the more likely to score with Knight saving his side's blushes of a heavy defeat. A long throw-in by Bowen into the area caused havoc as Thomson flicked it towards his own goal and was thankful to Knight for tipping it away. The fans then started to get frustrated with chants of 'Fenwick out'.
A dangerous challenge by Simpson on Newton could have sparked off a brawl and the referee quickly moved him to prevent such a situation happening. Simpson stayed on despite the Charlton protests on the pitch and in the away section of the ground.
It was again a very disappointing performance by Pompey who must now face the reality of fighting for mid-table security. However, it is so close at the bottom of the league that a string of wins could jump Pompey to safety.